Now is the best time of year to book
By Eileen Ogintz
Are you planning a family or multi-gen cruise in 2025? Whether you want a new megaship with all the bells and whistles, a luxury all-inclusive experience, a small ship that will satisfy your adventurous grown kids, or an expedition cruise, now is the time to book.
Welcome to WAVE Season. That’s the time each year when the cruise lines offer sales and value-added amenities to encourage you to book sooner rather than later. Typically, these deals last until the end of March, said Chris Gray Faust, executive editor of Cruise Critic, but some are lasting longer. Others, like those from Carnival Cruise Lines, are shorter with new ones offered. Follow your favorite cruise lines on social media! (Check Cruise Critic’s best WAVE Season deals here. They are updated throughout the season.)
That’s why if you see a deal that appeals, book it right away—once you’ve checked with your travel companions. You definitely want travel insurance (which may be a better deal to buy independently. Check www.squaremouth.com or www.insuremytrip.com to compare policies) incase an airline delay causes you to miss your ship or someone in your family gets sick or your luggage gets lost—just some of the issues and expenses travel insurance can help with.
You may also want to work with a travel advisor, especially if you are new to cruising. Not only can they help you sift through the deals, but they can help you choose the right cruise line and ship for your family. And the travel advisor can take the heat if someone in the group is unhappy.
Here are some of the family friendly deals to choose from whatever your kids’ ages or if you are considering a getaway without the kids:
We have just happily sailed the Hurtigruten MS Trollfjord up the Norwegian Coast chasing the Northern Lights. Plan a Northern Lights cruise or one where the sun never sets with discounted fares up to 25 per cent. Book by the end of April but sale until mid-2026.
Croisi Europe River Cruises has special multigenerational deals that offer 20 per cent off for the 2nd generation and a free cruise for the third generation up to age 16. A selection of special excursions has been developed for the Croisi Family summer cruises and solo supplements have been waved. For those traveling without kids, Croisi is offering up to 50 per cent on the second passenger and a free excursion package on a selection of European rivers. There are also early booking discounts for 2026, including new itineraries in Africa and the Mekong.
Norwegian Cruise Line, with kids’ attractions on the newest ships including a three-level racetrack, virtual gaming and the fastest water slides at sea, is touting 50 per cent discounts plus over $2000 in perks when combined with More At Sea that includes unlimited drinks, more specialty dining, more high-speed Wi-Fi and shore excursion credits. NEW Resident Rates: 20% Off Select Sailings to the Bahamas & Caribbean departing now through April 30, 2025, for residents of Florida, Texas, California, New York and Louisiana! This offer can be combined with the More At Sea package.
Book certain Disney cruises by March 14 and pay half of the required deposits. There is another deal where you can get up to 20 per cent off on sailings to the Caribbean from Florida, a Hawaiian Cruise and more but you have to pay in full when you book and rates don’t include gratuities or Port Adventures.
All-inclusive Regent Seven Seas’ Upgrade Your Horizon deals includes savings of up to 20% on 25 of the 350-plus voyages, available for new bookings made between now and February 28, 2025. With this offer, travelers can get a two-category upgrade, 50 per cent reduced deposits and the chance to explore everywhere from Alaska to Australia & New Zealand, the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. When we sailed Grandeur, Regent’s newest ship, on a transatlantic cruise last spring, we especially appreciated that shore excursions and specialty restaurants were among the included amenities.
Holland America, especially popular with multigenerational groups and for Alaska, is touting its “Start Your Journey Sale ” With free kids’ cruise fares (those 18 and under traveling as a third and fourth passenger in a cabin) free balcony upgrades, 50 per cent reduced deposits and cruise fares starting at just $129 a day. Book by Feb. 28 for a cruise through spring 2026 and get the “Have It All” premium package that include Have It All’s shore excursions, beverages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi.
Princess Cruises, especially popular with families wanting to cruise Alaska or the Caribbean, has the Come Aboard Sale with up to 40 per cent off, free room upgrade, free 3d and 4th guests (read that kids!) and $99 deposit. Cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean can be had right now for less than $500 a person. Also save significantly on the new Sanctuary Collection staterooms aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess, the line’s newest ships, with unlimited drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi, reserved theater seats and more.
Celebrity Cruises, which we sailed in Greece during the pandemic, is offering up to 75 per cent off for the second passenger in a cabin and additional savings of up to $600 per sailing, including on the new Celebrity Xcel which debuts in the fall. There are new overnight options on some European itineraries.,
AMAWaterways, the award-winning and family owned river cruise company is touting complimentary two, three or four night pre and post cruise land packages on select 2025 and 2026 European river cruises or up to a $2000 stateroom discount—a good bet for those with grown kids or extended family.. These include stays in Amsterdam, Prague, Lisbon and Brittany. The deal is compatible with the cruise line’s AirPlus fixed airfare rates starting at premium economy for $899.
Windstar Cruises, which offer smaller yacht and sailing ships and the ability to visit smaller ports, is touting “Pick Your Perk” options include: one free hotel night (which can be used pre- or post-cruise) OR up to $1,000 Onboard Credit, which can be used for Windstar’s award-winning shore excursions and adventures, spa services, or even special celebratory cocktails. Premium suite guests are afforded a third option – an upgrade to the All-Inclusive Fare ($99/day value) which includes unlimited alcohol, Wi-Fi, and all gratuities. Book through March 31 for sailings through June 2026. Windstar has introduced winter cruises in Europe (less crowded!) and an extensive Tahiti program.
Abercrombie & Kent, which offers all-inclusive expedition cruises across Europe and to far flung destinations including Coastal Tanzania and the Arctic, is touting , s to far-flung destinations including the Arctic, is offering a savings of 40 per cent for the second person in your cabin on select 2025 cruises. We were especially impressed by the extremely knowledgeable Expedition crew on our Arctic trip last summer where we experienced climate change first hand. Save $1000 per person on select departures to Alaska this summer.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is offering a “Sail Into Savings” event, where guests can save up to 30% off per person on some of the brand’s most popular itineraries including some of their Generations cruises designed for families including “Castles Along the Rhine” (30 per cent off) and “Enchanting Danube” (20 per cent off) This offer is valid on new bookings made through February 28, 2025, for travel on select itineraries through the end of the year.
Royal Caribbean, especially popular for families, now has four private island beach clubs, including in Mexico and Paradise Island, the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, has 4-night cruises including a day at one of the private islands starting at under $500 per person. From now until March 31, Royal Caribbean is offering 60% off second guest with the promo code BOGO60 and Kids Sail Free with the promo code KSF. These deals also extend 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations on Star of the Seas, debuting in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida in August 2025.